'Eagle swoops and lifts toddler'

The dramatic moment a baby is picked off the ground by what is believed to be a golden eagle appears to have been caught on a phone camera - if it is for real.

The incident reportedly happened in a park in Montreal, with the clip uploaded onto social media on December 18 - although it has since generated plenty of debate over whether it is real or fake.

In slow motion, the bird appears to lift the toddler off the ground, if only for a few seconds.

The man taking the film then rushes over to aid the toddler.

Golden Eagles, which are protected by law, eat birds, fish and large insects but have been known to attack fully-grown deer.

Dramatic escape or dastardly hoax? You decide.